Cracking Down on Corruption: NMC's Fight for Integrity in Medical Education

Dr. Abhijat Sheth, the new NMC chief, addresses corruption concerns by implementing a root cause analysis to strengthen the assessment system for medical colleges. Allegations have led to blacklisting assessors and halting seat renewals. Dr. Sheth emphasizes NMC's zero tolerance and new measures to prevent future misconduct.

In the wake of corruption allegations in the inspection process of medical colleges, Dr. Abhijat Sheth, the newly appointed chief of the National Medical Commission (NMC), has announced a comprehensive root cause analysis to address and rectify potential shortcomings.

Dr. Sheth, in an exclusive interview, affirmed that these allegations pose a significant concern for the NMC. Upon taking office in August, he prioritized a thorough review of existing procedures alongside his team. The urgency follows a major Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, which uncovered a network involving officials from the Health Ministry, NMC, and private medical entities engaged in fraudulent activities.

Addressing the problem, Dr. Sheth revealed that measures are already underway to minimize dependence on physical inspections, such as implementing CCTV surveillance and biometric systems for transparency and accountability. He asserted NMC's commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and pledged reforms to ensure robust governance in medical education regulation.

(With inputs from agencies.)